Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a report titled “Advancing LGBT Health & Well-being.” This is the 4th annual report that is the outcome of the President’s directive to identify steps that the DHHS can take to improve the health of LGBT Americans. Before the Affordable Care Act, one in three lower income LGBT Americans did not have medical insurance. Recognizing that insurance alone will not improve the health of our communities, the reports provide specific recommendations for steps that still need to be taken to address this need.

The new recommendations for 2015 are:

1. Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity

2. Funding Research on LGBT Health Inequities

3. Improving Health Data on LGBT Populations

4. Research on the Blood Donation Deferral Policy for Men Who Have Sex with Other Men

5. Improving Cultural Competency with Respect to the Two Spirit Community

6. Further Addressing the Human Services Needs of LGBT Populations

7. Re-Launching the HHS LGBT Issues Webpage

For more about what the Affordable Care Act means for LGBT Americans and their families, visit the HHS web pages dedicated focusing on LGBT health! And remember to spread the word — enrollment is open until Feburary 2015! Be sure everyone you know has the information they need to get coverage!